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Lewiston Mass Shooting 2023 Case Information
This webpage will be updated periodically with new updates
– Last Updated: 9/26/2025
On October 25, 2023, the city of Lewiston, Maine, was shaken by one of the deadliest mass shootings in history. Families lost loved ones, survivors were left with lifelong injuries, and an entire community continues to grapple with the aftermath. At Gideon Asen, we are proud to represent victims and families in their pursuit of justice.
This page is intended to serve as a resource, compiling facts, official documents, court filings, media coverage, firm commentary, and community resources.
Timeline of Events & Reaction
The Lewiston mass shooting unfolded on October 25, 2023, in two separate but connected attacks that shook Maine to its core. At approximately 7:00 p.m., the shooter, U.S. Army Reserve Sergeant Robert Card, opened fire at Just-In-Time Recreation, a bowling alley frequented by families, league players, and children.
After leaving Just-In-Time, Card drove a short distance to Schemengees Bar & Grille, a local establishment where folks had gathered to play pool and to participate in a regular corn hole tournament. The corn hole teams included many members of Maine’s deaf community.
Over the course of that night:
- 18 lives were lost - Fathers, mothers, siblings, and friends whose absence continue to be felt deeply.
- Many others who were seriously injured - With permanent physical and psychological scars.
- Thousands of community members were locked down - Fearing for their lives as the search for the gunman continued.
The immediate aftermath saw a massive law enforcement response, with local, state, and federal agencies coordinating a two-day manhunt. Schools, businesses, and public facilities closed. The atmosphere was one of fear and grief, underscored by the uncertainty of whether the shooter would strike again.
The manhunt ended on October 27, when law enforcement located the shooter deceased in Lisbon Falls. Though the immediate danger had passed, the trauma and consequences of those two days endure.
Attorneys Hold Town Hall Meeting
Gideon Asen, along with Jamal Alsafar and Josh Koskoff held a town hall meeting to answer community questions. At a roundtable discussion in Lewiston, they discussed how can the families of the wounded and dead use the legal system to prevent it from happening again?
Survivors and Families Travel to Washington DC to Meet with Maine’s Legislative Delegation
Survivors and families affected by the Lewiston-Auburn shooting traveled to Washington, D.C., to demand action from Maine’s congressional delegation. Their trip was not only about sharing their experiences but also about pressing lawmakers for meaningful change. By bringing their voices directly to Capitol Hill, they are turning personal tragedy into a call for stronger policies and greater accountability.
- The families requested that the delegation press for an independent DoD IG investigation.
- The legislative delegation followed up by sending official correspondence to the Army requesting an independent DoD IG investigation.
- This request ultimately resulted in the DoD IG investigation and report that was recently issued (Read about the DoD IG report here), including findings that all branches of the military were violating their own policies by failing to report risks of service member violence to law enforcement.
- News Center Maine, Families impacted by Lewiston mass shooting travel to Washington D.C., calling for an Army investigation
- Portland Press Herald, This Lewiston family had never been on a plane. Now they’re in D.C. fighting to change gun laws
- WGME, Lewiston mass shooting survivor, families meet with lawmakers to push for investigation
- Maine Morning Star, Pushing for information and accountability, Lewiston families and survivors go to Washington
Maine Conducts Independent Investigation into the Facts of the Lewiston Shooting
The State of Maine established an independent commission to investigate not only the immediate law-enforcement response, but also the months of events, warnings, and systemic breakdowns that preceded the Lewiston shooting. The commission held public hearings, reviewed thousands of pages of records, and ultimately issued a detailed report that identifies multiple missed opportunities by both local authorities and the Army Reserve to intervene. Its findings underscore gaps in communication, failure to act under Maine’s “yellow flag” law, and lapses in oversight across agencies.
Final Report of the Independent Commission to Investigate The Facts of the Tragedy in Lewiston
Army Conducts Its Own Investigation into Lewiston Shooting
The U.S. Army Inspector General conducted its own investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Lewiston shooting, examining how warnings about Robert Card were handled within the military. The investigation found serious breakdowns in oversight and communication, with commanders failing to take sufficient action despite repeated concerns about Card’s mental health. It also exposed critical gaps between military and civilian systems that allowed warning signs to go unaddressed.
- The Army itself and the Army’s office of Inspector General issued reports of their investigations
- Those investigations found that the Army violated many of its mandatory policies and cited 3 of its members for dereliction of duty
Victims File Lawsuit, Initial Complaint and Executive Summary
The official legal complaint lays out in detail the failures that contributed to the shootings. These include:
- Missed opportunities to intervene when the shooter exhibited warning signs.
- Institutional knowledge of escalating mental health issues that went unaddressed.
- Questions of liability for entities that had direct knowledge of the risk.
The complaint seeks compensatory damages for the families and survivors, including economic losses (such as medical bills and lost wages) and noneconomic damages (such as pain, suffering, and emotional distress).
Inspector General US Department of Defense Report
On September 9, 2025, the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG) released a significant report evaluating how the military responds to violent threats made by service members. This report, Evaluation of DoD Policies and Procedures for Responding to Reports of Violent Threats Made by Service Members (DODIG-2025-157), brings critical attention to the very issues at the heart of the Lewiston tragedy.
Amended Complaint after DoD Report
Following the report issued by the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Gideon Asen along with co-counsel filed an amended complaint to include key findings contained in the report. Those findings include the fact that the leadup to the Lewiston mass shooting was not the first time the Army had violated its own procedures requiring it to report and investigate threats of violence. It also included that fact that the DoD IG, for the first time, acknowledged that the Army’s failures to follow its own policies increased the risk to the community that resulted in the mass shooting.
Lawsuit Media Coverage
The Lewiston tragedy has drawn sustained attention from both local and national media outlets. Coverage has highlighted the devastating loss of life, the systemic failures that allowed the shooting to occur, and the legal efforts now underway to secure accountability. Through in-depth reporting, these outlets have not only chronicled the events but also given voice to survivors, families, and advocates seeking justice.
- NBC, Maine mass shooting survivors file negligence lawsuit against the U.S. government
- CNN, Survivors of Maine mass shooting and victims’ relatives sue US government alleging negligence
- The Washington Post, Maine shooting survivors, families sue U.S. government over massacre
- The Guardian, Maine shooting survivors sue US government, alleging army failed to stop deadly attack
- Full list of Media Coverage
